If last offseason was any indication, the Rangers — and their eccentric owner, Ray Davis — are more than willing to splash the cash.
That point was punctuated on Friday after the Rangers agreed to terms with star right-hander Jacob deGrom.
The Texas Rangers tonight announced that the club has agreed to terms with free agent RHP Jacob deGrom on a five-year contract covering the 2023-27 seasons. pic.twitter.com/nyWsmlD3ew
— Texas Rangers PR (@TXRangersPR) December 3, 2022
deGrom, 34, is undoubtedly the best pitcher in the game, a skilled hurler with a pitching repertoire like few others in the game. Although he's been beset by injuries the past couple years, when he's on the mound, he's nearly impossible to stop.
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The AL West just got that much more interesting. Here's everything you need to know about deGrom's mammoth deal.
Jacob deGrom contract details
It was always going to take an eye-popping deal to secure deGrom's services. Texas made sure to reward deGoat's excellence with a cash-laden contract, snapping him up on five-year, $185 million terms, per ESPN's Jeff Passan.
The deal features a conditional sixth-year option which could raise the value of the contract to $222 million. Big-time bucks for a big-time arm.
BREAKING: Right-hander Jacob deGrom has signed a five-year, $185 million contract with the Texas Rangers, sources tell ESPN. Physical is passed. Deal is done. Includes conditional sixth-year option that would take total deal to $222 million. Full no-trade clause. A massive haul.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 3, 2022
With an average annual value (AAV) of $37 million, deGrom's new contract makes him the second-highest paid pitcher in the league, only trailing Mets starter Max Scherzer. He'll reel in $9.5 million more than he did last year, a decent bump given the fact that he was only able to throw in 11 games in 2022.
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Given his recent injury issues and advanced age — deGrom turns 35 next June — the lengthy agreement certainly represents a risk for the Rangers. Still, for a team lacking in pitching quality — Texas posted a 4.22 ERA, the ninth-worst mark in MLB — you can't get much better than deGrom.
Highest paid MLB pitchers
deGrom has long-been MLB's best pitcher. Now, he's getting paid like it, too. Here's where he ranks among the game's most loaded hurlers.
| Rank | Player | AAV |
| 1 | Max Scherzer | $43.33 million |
| 2 | Jacob deGrom | $37 million |
| 3 | Gerrit Cole | $36 million |
| 4 | Trevor Bauer | $35.33 million |
| 5 | Stephen Strasburg | $35 million |
| 6 | Shohei Ohtani | $30 million |
| 7 | Chris Sale | $27.5 million |
| 8 | Marcus Stroman | $25 million |
| 9 | Zack Wheeler | $24.5 million |
| 10 | Patrick Corbin | $24.42 million |